Once on Firefly’s main stage, the bearded rocker proved he can do more than just head-bang while drowning in reverb, which he does so well for MMJ.

Instead, James let his freak flag fly, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since James is one of indie rock’s most charmingly spaced-out singers.

His solo debut that came out earlier this year, “Regions of Light and Sound of God,” is a collection of spiritually-themed songs, many without the punishing power of some of MMJ’s biggest hits. (He didn’t touch MMJ’s catalog at all during his set.)

His whimsical side meshed perfectly with the laid back afternoon crowd, as he jumped from guitar and even saxophone on “Know Til Now” while dressed in a dapper black suit in 82-degree weather.

Later as he sang the breezy, George Harrison-esque “Of the Mother Again,” a fan began blowing bubbles, which soon floated around James on stage thanks to a helpful wind.

“It’s great to be here on such a glorious day,” he said after throwing bottles of cold water to the crowd, telling them to share.
KENDRICK LAMAR

One of hip hop’s more promising young, new stars, Kendrick Lamar held court over a bog crowd that gathered Saturday for his much-anticipated Delaware debut.

Lamar has gone from making mixtapes in Compton, Calif. in 2010 to releasing full-length albums, including last year’s “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.”

It was co-produced by collaborator/mentor Dr. Dre and takes listeners through a guided tour his his teenage years living on the hard streets of Compton — the city famously name-checked by Dre and Tupac Shakur on one of raps most beloved anthems, “California Love.”

Lamar was one of only a few hip hop acts on this year’s Firefly bill, including Public Enemy, Schoolboy Q and Action Bronson, but he delivered the goods: a lean (and certainly not clean) show without the bloat of Public Enemy’s set the night before. (Sorry, Chuck and Flava.)

Surrounded by festivalgoers who know a thing or two about drinking — Dogfish Head alone says they served 88,000 pints on Friday — the 25-year-old made sure to launch into the bass-heavy No. 1 rap hit, “Swimming Pools (Drank).”

“Why you babysitting only two or three shots/I’m a show you how to turn it up a notch,” he sang to the crowd, many of whom had their drinks raised high. “First you get a swimming pool full of liquor then you dive in it.”

When it came to his latest single, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” he compared the right side of the audience to the left in a fight for which side was the loudest, saying the other side would be mad if they didn’t represent.

Just before easing into the song, he said. “If everybody’s mad, then the vibe will be killed.”

Note: No vibes were killed during the writing of this review.

FOXYGEN

When hyperactive Foxygen singer Sam France appeared on stage, he came running and screaming.

He also had an admission as his first words: “I have mental problems, they told me.”

A few minutes later as he climbed about 10 feet up the side rigging of the Porch Stage, jumping off and landing hard, it was hard not to think, “Was he telling the truth and should someone be up there babysitting him?”

The band’s raucous and wild reputation preceded them thanks to spastic shows and France’s meltdown at South By Southwest in March when he yelled at a fan and cut a set short. Foxygen’s European tour was then cancelled.

But the band has bounced back and has been putting together solid shows reveling in the band’s ’60s rock pastiche, which makes their songs a hide-and-seek of nods to songs from an earlier era.

At Firefly, the band charged through “On Blue Mountain” to open the show — a song with well-crafted sections that are reminiscent of both the Rolling Stones’ “Under My Thumb” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.”

The band careened from slow motion psychedelia to frenzied punk rock punctuated by France’s guttural screams — a winning blend.

The five-piece discussed the death of “Sopranos” actor James Galdolfini after seeing a large cut-out of the beloved actor’r face being held up by fan Chris Toll of Baltimore, Md.

“This goes out to James Galdolfini,” France said before launching into WXPN 889.5-FM favorite “Shugggie” as Toll and his friend’s smiled over the shoutout.

“He’s my favorite character ever and I love him,” said Toll, one off the festival’s many characters either holding up big headed cut-outs or wearing goofy costumes like the man covered in blue paint, looking like David Cross’ character on “Arrested Development.”

But the real star of the show was France, as always. Slapping himself in the head with a microphone and dropping to the floor one minute and wrapping the chord around his neck and sticking out his tongue at another — no one took their eyes off him.

During “Teenage Alien Blues,” he howled, “I’ve got a head full of acid.” It was hard not to take it as a proclamation, since that what is what many in the crowd were thinking anyway.THE SPINTO BAND

After battling heavy traffic to get to Firefly, several hundred fans gathered during an early afternoon set by The Spinto Band after rushing across the sprawling grounds to make their show.

The only Delaware band on Firefly’s 73-band main stage line-up knew all about the traffic woes, too.

“Make some noise for traffic on Route 13!,” singer Nick Krill said from the stage during the band’s bouncy 30-minute show. “Oh my gosh. But it was worth it.”

The five-piece is based out of Hockessin, where they have had a studio and playhouse for the past several years. Music is in their blood with four of the members either sons or step-sons of members of The Sin City Band, a veteran Newark honky tonk band.

Plenty of familiar-looking Delaware faces were looking out at the band as they danced, clapped, ooh-ed and ahh-ed through songs like “Oh Mandy” and “Shake It Off.”

Among them was Thomas Hughes, father of two of the Spintos, who was invited by the band since it was his birthday. In a sweet moment, he even got a shout-out on stage from his son, also named Thomas.

Surrounded by his students and players, the Tower Hill School teacher and football coach was smiling from ear to ear after the concert.

“I’ve been waiting for this for two months,” he says. “I guess I’m just a proud dad.”

The Spintos’ 2005 debut for Bar/None Records received considerable buzz, spawning song placements in commercials and European tours with bands like Arctic Monkeys.

Over the next eight years, the band refined its trademark quirky pop sound with a trio of albums, including this year’s release, “Cool Cocoon.”

Fans screamed, “Delaware!,” at the band, knowing full well they would be the only Delawareans on stage all weekend.

In response, Krill proudly announced what the band’s hardcore fans already knew: “We’re a rock band from Delaware. Make some noise for Delaware!”

DR. DOG

One of the most said phrases by bands at last year’s Firefly Music Festival was, “We’ve never played in Delaware before!”

While music fans will likely hear more of the same this year — Wild Belle already made that same announcement on the Lawn Stage earlier today — Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog made no such proclamation.

Not only has the band performed in Delaware several times over the years, but singer/bassist Toby Leaman also calls Wilmington home.

As beach balls and marijuana smoke wafted above the crowd, he let out his First State secret in between songs.

“I just realized I actually live in Delaware and a lot of you don’t,” he said. “We all live here until the end of the weekend. Enjoy it. It’s a Small Wonder.”

Leaman, it turns out, moved to Wilmington several years ago after buying a home there with his wife. He’s been spotted at Kreston’s Liquors and other spots by surprised fans in the past.

The Philadelphia pop maestros — think Beach Boys harmonies funneled through a modern day indie rock aesthetic — stuck to bouncy, fun songs throughout its hour-long set. They pulled from a string of critically-acclaimed albums, including 2012’s melodic “Be the Void.”

The festival’s carefree attitude kicked up a roar from the crowd during “Shadow People” as Zach Miller sang, “It’s the right night for the wrong company.”

With the sun dropping down behind the trees and a cool evening breeze starting up, festivalgoers were seemingly thinking about their upcoming nighttime activities with each other.

Sexy time!

JAPANDROIDS

From Dave to Delaware.

That’s how it was for Canadian rock duo Japandroids who performed at Firefly early Saturday afternoon, fresh from the band’s appearance on “Late Show with David Letterman” Thursday that ended with Letterman proclaiming, “Two guys. That’s all you need!”

Armed with a pair of albums brimming with catchy choruses — 2009’s “Post-Nothing” and last year’s winning “Celebration Rock” — they unloaded a muscular, hard-charging set making them the hardest rocking duo of the festival.

Guitarist/singer Brian King told the early bird music fans (yes, 1:30 p.m. is early at Firefly) that the pair had performed in every state except Delaware, so they were especially excited for their first First State rock session.

The band was the opening act on the main Firefly stage, setting it up for the rest of the day’s knock-out line-up big stage acts: Jim James, Alabama Shakes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the night’s headliner, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

From the very first song — “Adrenaline Nightshift,” which they also performed for Letterman — the Japandroids pounded out gritty songs that fans of The Replacements would especially enjoy.

Their no-frills mix of punk, alternative and garage under Dover’s unrelenting sunshine would have made The Replacements’ Paul Westerberg proud.

About Ryan Cormier

News Journal features reporter Ryan Cormier throws everything pop culture into a blender and hits frappe. Check out his take on music, movies, celebrities and everything in between. It's what you need to know and a lot more stuff you really don't. Join him on Twitter and Facebook.

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